The Sharks have won seven of their last nine against the Warriors and have won 3 of the last 4 at Mt Smart.

New Zealand are 12th on the ladder with a 7-11 record as they stare down the barrel of a sixth straight season without finals football. The Warriors have lost three on the trot and are 3-7 against Top 8 teams this year. New Zealand have conceded at least 24 points in six of their last nine. Cronulla are fourth on the ladder with a 12-6 record. They have been outstanding on the road this year with seven wins in eight away games. The Sharks have won just three of their last six matches.

Well-positioned to become the first team in over 25 years to successfully defend the NRL premiership, the Sharks will be aiming to further enhance their top four credentials on Friday night against the struggling Warriors.

Cronulla bounced back superbly from their shock 30-10 loss to the Titans when they outclassed the Rabbitohs 26-12 last Friday night, and with just six rounds of the regular season remaining, Shane Flanagan’s side will be hoping to fine-tune their game ahead of the finals.

A top four finish is almost essential to claim premiership success, so it’s imperative that Cronulla continue to win and secure a coveted spot in the top half of the eight.

The Sharks have experienced mixed fortune heading into this showdown, with James Maloney out with a hand injury but Jack Bird and James Segeyaro both return.

After suffering a tight loss to the Cowboys in Townsville last week, the Warriors need to win all their remaining games to have a slim chance of making the finals.

Currently six points adrift of the eight and battling with a whole host of other teams to even challenge for the finals, it’s obviously a must-win clash for the Kiwi club.

One advantage for the Warriors is their outstanding record at home, which is the second best in the competition with six wins from nine matches on New Zealand soil.